Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to Donate 10,000 Soccer Balls to Local Youth in 2020

Contributors:
Aaron Nagel - Executive Director
Ben Martisius - Director of Marketing and Communications
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Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) has committed to distributing 10,000 size one soccer balls for free by the end of 2020 to provide the next generation of local youth more opportunities to connect with the game of soccer.

In 2018, Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club merged with Colorado Storm to become the largest youth soccer club in Colorado, serving 10,000 players across the front range. Today, with the Club’s increased reach and scope throughout local communities, CRYSC is finding new ways to increase access to the game and develop the next generation of soccer players in Colorado. In alignment with this vision, the organization has committed to distributing 10,000 size one soccer balls to local youth throughout 2020.

“Having grown up in Scotland, where soccer is the number one sport in terms of participation, I haven’t seen a shortage of players who thrive on this game. Being at a Club where that same passion for soccer not only exists, but is shared at every level is something I consider myself fortunate to be part of. We hope this initiative will go a long way towards inspiring a lifetime of love and enjoyment for the game of soccer,” said CRYSC Technical Director, Donald Gillies.

Last spring, CRYSC welcomed international youth soccer expert, Tom Byers, to speak to coaches and staff on his “Soccer Starts at Home” philosophy. Tom’s philosophy promotes the positive benefits of young players practicing in the house and the idea that a player can fall in love with the ball before they can fall in love with the game. His visit was the seed of inspiration that has since grown into an initiative to create new opportunities and access for players taking their first steps into the sport. Reducing barriers for young players to fall in love with the beautiful game benefits the entire Colorado soccer community and helps facilitate the growth of the sport in the United States.

“We’ve been building up a stockpile of size one soccer balls with the intention of giving them back to the community to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players in Colorado,” said CRSYC Executive Director, Aaron Nagel. “The current situation with COVID-19 has significantly limited organized play opportunities for our youngest players, so there is no better time than now to give back to the players and families that have been impacted across the state.”

To make sure that these soccer balls will be put to good use in the Colorado community, Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is calling on local school leaders, specifically those leading toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary schools, to fill out the interest form below. We’ll evaluate each request and provide enough soccer balls to selected schools for each child. Help distribute 10,000 soccer balls throughout our community this year by filling out the interest form today!

Name
Organization or School Address
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is the only youth soccer Club in Colorado with a complete player pathway from youth to professional. The Club offers programming for all ages and ability levels through recreational leagues, competitive leagues, seasonal camps, tournaments, adaptive programming, and outreach programming. To find out more, please visit the Club’s website at https://rapidsyouthsoccer.org.

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Contributors:
Aaron Nagel
Executive Director
[email protected]303.399.5858 ext. 104

Aaron Nagel has been the Executive Director of the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club since 2016. Prior to CRYSC, Aaron was the Executive Director for Skyline Soccer Association for eight years, another Denver area youth soccer club. Aaron grew up in North Dakota and studied business, communications, and audio engineering at North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Aaron later went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit administration. Additionally, Aaron is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, Certified Volunteer Administrator, and Certified Youth Sports Administrator. Outside the work he loves, Aaron is married to Jenny, and they share four children, Elias, Henley, Palmer, and Lennon, all who play soccer for CRYSC and have played for Coach Dad at some point. Aaron and his family love Colorado and are avid hikers, campers, skiers/snowboarders, whitewater rafters, and climbers.

Aaron Nagel has been the Executive Director of the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club since 2016. Prior to CRYSC, Aaron was the Executive Director for Skyline Soccer Association for eight years, another Denver area youth soccer club. Aaron grew up in North Dakota and studied business, communications, and audio engineering at North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Aaron later went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit administration. Additionally, Aaron is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, Certified Volunteer Administrator, and Certified Youth Sports Administrator. Outside the work he loves, Aaron is married to Jenny, and they share four children, Elias, Henley, Palmer, and Lennon, all who play soccer for CRYSC and have played for Coach Dad at some point. Aaron and his family love Colorado and are avid hikers, campers, skiers/snowboarders, whitewater rafters, and climbers.

Ben Martisius
Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]719.394.8561

Ben Martisius grew up in Monroe, Louisiana where he played soccer through high school, and attended Louisiana State University to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications. Prior to graduating, he completed a minor in German during a year abroad in Innsbruck, Austria at the Universität Innsbruck. In 2014, Ben moved to Denver, Colorado to attend graduate school at the University of Denver and earn his Master's degree in Strategic Communications. While in school, he took a communications role with the university's alumni advancement team, and has since worked for a local gym as a Marketing Specialist, and multiple clients as the Digital Marketing Specialist for Domoto Brands, LLC. In 2018, he was hired by Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club as the Communications Manager and found a perfect role for merging his passion for Marketing and Communications with soccer. After two years of overseeing communications at the Club, he was promoted to the Director of Marketing and Communications. In his personal life, Ben likes to go snowboarding, enjoy the outdoors during the summer, play guitar, bass guitar, or piano, watch or play soccer, and spend time with friends and family. He's also passionate about travel and wants to see as much of the world and experience as many cultures as possible.

Ben Martisius grew up in Monroe, Louisiana where he played soccer through high school, and attended Louisiana State University to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications. Prior to graduating, he completed a minor in German during a year abroad in Innsbruck, Austria at the Universität Innsbruck. In 2014, Ben moved to Denver, Colorado to attend graduate school at the University of Denver and earn his Master's degree in Strategic Communications. While in school, he took a communications role with the university's alumni advancement team, and has since worked for a local gym as a Marketing Specialist, and multiple clients as the Digital Marketing Specialist for Domoto Brands, LLC. In 2018, he was hired by Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club as the Communications Manager and found a perfect role for merging his passion for Marketing and Communications with soccer. After two years of overseeing communications at the Club, he was promoted to the Director of Marketing and Communications. In his personal life, Ben likes to go snowboarding, enjoy the outdoors during the summer, play guitar, bass guitar, or piano, watch or play soccer, and spend time with friends and family. He's also passionate about travel and wants to see as much of the world and experience as many cultures as possible.

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